USNA vs Johns Hopkins

S

SuperGreek123

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2021
Messages
22
Hey guys, I really need help with deciding where I’m gonna go to college. I got into both USNA and Johns Hopkins and I can see myself attending both but they will lead me down very different paths. Here are my thoughts about going to each school.

USNA:
  • I will be able to major in Cyber Operations and possibly double major with Comp Sci (I’m not sure how viable this is)
  • I love the location of Annapolis and prefer it to JHU
  • Attending USNA for free is huge positive for me and my family
  • I will be able to tryout and hopefully play a D1 sport (but not guaranteed yet)
  • I really don’t mind the strictness of USNA because I’m not at all interested in partying and stuff like that
  • I am prepared as a leader after being captain of two sports teams
  • long lasting friends and more of a sense of community
  • Shorter holidays and breaks
  • serve 5 years after graduation
  • Limited academic opportunities such as internships and study abroad (or not?)
  • *Important note that my primarily goal/motivation is not to be part of the military but instead the other benefits that attending USNA has

JHU
  • Globally recognized as one of the best universities in the world
  • I know JHU is primarily know for medicine but Undergraduate computer science still ranked highly
  • will be able to play D3 sport
  • More free time, Longer breaks
  • more research opportunities
  • location is worse but not a big factor in my decision
  • decent financial aid given but have to pay quite a bit more than USNA
I’m definitely not the expert on either school but these are my thoughts. I may not be taking into account factors for going or not going to each school. Please try not to be bias as much as possible because I’m trying to make a huge decisions that will direct my life.
 
“Important note”

This note provides your answer


Good Luck at the JHU walk on tryouts.

One of mine within the Navy SA pipeline within the past few years had an active duty officer as a guest speaker for their class.

His message to the class

”you are here to learn to become killers”

If you have no desire to lead men and woman potentially in combat as a commissioned officer you have no business being at the USNA
 
I think this is a big hint:

Important note that my primarily goal/motivation is not to be part of the military but instead the other benefits that attending USNA has
 
@Small Team Bacsi nailed it.

USNA Mission:
"To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government."

If the mission of the USNA does not fit your life goals/desires then JHU is your choice.

Also note that "Attending USNA for free is huge positive for me and my family" is false. Many have paid for their USNA education with their lives. So be clear on your intentions.

Cross posted at sametime as @cluelesscandidateparents
 
Academy is not "free." It is an expenditure of blood, sweat, and tears. And then a minimum of 5 years of your life after graduation (more depending on your job selection).

Someone should not choose the Academy because they expect the normal college experience. You choose it because you are making a commitment to serve your country as a selfless member of the armed services. Getting your education with nothing out of your pocket is a bonus.
 
LT360 said:
@Small Team Bacsi nailed it.

USNA Mission:
"To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government."

If the mission of the USNA does not fit your life goals/desires then JHU is your choice.

Also note that "Attending USNA for free is huge positive for me and my family" is false. Many have paid for their USNA education with their lives. So be clear on your intentions.

Cross posted at sametime as @cluelesscandidateparents
Click to expand...
You pay for it giving up a lot of family life etc. Missing big dates etc and yes possibly w the ultimate sacrifice, or like many of my friends with lost limbs etc
 
I guess that makes sense. I meant it as I don’t wanna go to USNA for the sole and primary reason that I want to be in the military.
If it was simply a military school or a preparation to go into the military I would not have even considered it.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
“Important note”

This note provides your answer


Good Luck at the JHU walk on tryouts.

One of mine within the Navy SA pipeline within the past few years had an active duty officer as a guest speaker for their class.

His message to the class

”you are here to learn to become killers”

If you have no desire to lead men and woman potentially in combat as a commissioned officer you have no business being at the USNA
Click to expand...
Wdym good luck at the tryouts. Are you saying that they hard because there is no way that JHU sports are more competitive than USNA
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Academy is not "free." It is an expenditure of blood, sweat, and tears. And then a minimum of 5 years of your life after graduation (more depending on your job selection).

Someone should not choose the Academy because they expect the normal college experience. You choose it because you are making a commitment to serve your country as a selfless member of the armed services. Getting your education with nothing out of your pocket is a bonus.
Click to expand...
Obviously. I didn’t say that it’s the main motivation but it is a bonus.
 
^The essence of my thoughts.

The day you enter USNA you will be in the military, on active duty service. Then it’s a minimum of 5 years commissioned service. If your reasons for attending USNA are primarily financial, gain friends and the other points you listed, and not the idea of bring a leader privileged to lead sailors or Marines, you will not be happy at USNA or as a junior officer. Unhappy people do not usually make good leaders, and it is the troops who will suffer. USNA is a hard road, with a great deal of daily suck factor, but what sustains the mid is their focus on attaining a commission and serving the country in the Navy or Marine Corps.

Yes, the points you listed can all be good supplemental reasons to attend USNA, but the idea of serving honorably in a committed way has to be at or near the top of the list.

Normally, I would recommend college ROTC as a good path to service with a chance at scholarship assistance, but I won’t in your case, because I am not hearing you are interested in actually being a military officer. Nothing wrong about that, that’s just my takeaway.

There are some federal “ABC” agency student programs that might help you with $, internships, etc. 100% civilian.
Google any agency and student programs.
Here are 2 places to start:

www.dodstem.us

Opportunities | DoD STEM

DoD STEM seeks to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum and advance the current DoD STEM workforce to meet future defense technological challenges.
www.dodstem.us www.dodstem.us
 
SuperGreek123 said:
Important note that my primarily goal/motivation is not to be part of the military but instead the other benefits that attending USNA has
Click to expand...
Many, particularly older grads, tend to think as committment to Military Service as a black and white decision, ie. either you are 100% committed to serving a career in the military, or the Naval Academy isn't for you. As I've said here before, it doesn't have to be a life time commitment, but you have to go in sincere desire to serve as a Commissioned Officer, and an open mind about the duration of service. There have been many succesful officers who stayed in for "one more tour" and woke up retiring as Captains and even Flags 30 years later , as well as many who went in thinking they were lifers who left after 5 year...

The bottom line, you need to have a strong desire to serve as an Officer for at least that first tour, and an open mind about the future. USNA is not college, it is a Service Academy and the Mission and primary focus is developing officers. If that is not your primary motivation, then a Service Academy really isn't the place for you.
 
The Naval Academy has more study abroad and internship opportunities compared to any of the other colleges I applied for out of high school.

At the end of the day the decision is up to you. When you are low-crawling through the mud at 5:30 in the morning on a school day after going to bed at 2:00 in the morning you may question your desire to be here. However, I mention that because you really have to want to be here or you will struggle.
 
USNA is all military all the time. It’s not ROTC. It’s not even close to civilian college. If you aren’t excited about that - and commissioning as an officer — on day 1, it isn’t going to get better. It’s gonna suck.

Go to JHU. Be happy. Let someone anxious to serve show up on I-Day.
 
USNA's primary mission is to commission officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. If you don't want to serve as an officer you should not come here, nor do I think you would do well/be willing to put up with the BS here if your mission is not to serve.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
There is absolutely no other reason to have a SA or a USNA than as a “ military school or a preparation to go into the military”

That is the sole reason

Granted there may be added bennies and rewards for those that attend ( or not) but it can be a truly miserable place if you have not much interest in the military.
Click to expand...
It can be a place that makes one miserable if you truly do desire to be a servant leader. Imagine how miserable you would be if that wasn’t your goal?

DS and his tribe are discussing their upcoming 2/7. They as plebes were all in. Now, with this decision on their horizon they are having real and honest conversations.

Frankly I would be concerned if they didn’t think long and hard about that commitment.

No SA is an easy road. No civilian college student can fathom the differences.
You have to be called to serve others. To be a leader who people want to follow. A leader that learns from poor leadership and will take care of those whose lives are in their care.

It isn’t for everyone and that isn’t a bad thing.
 
Last edited:
SuperGreek123 said:
Hey guys, I really need help with deciding where I’m gonna go to college. I got into both USNA and Johns Hopkins and I can see myself attending both but they will lead me down very different paths. Here are my thoughts about going to each school.

USNA:
  • I will be able to major in Cyber Operations and possibly double major with Comp Sci (I’m not sure how viable this is)
  • I love the location of Annapolis and prefer it to JHU
  • Attending USNA for free is huge positive for me and my family
  • I will be able to tryout and hopefully play a D1 sport (but not guaranteed yet)
  • I really don’t mind the strictness of USNA because I’m not at all interested in partying and stuff like that
  • I am prepared as a leader after being captain of two sports teams
  • long lasting friends and more of a sense of community
  • Shorter holidays and breaks
  • serve 5 years after graduation
  • Limited academic opportunities such as internships and study abroad (or not?)
  • *Important note that my primarily goal/motivation is not to be part of the military but instead the other benefits that attending USNA has

JHU
  • Globally recognized as one of the best universities in the world
  • I know JHU is primarily know for medicine but Undergraduate computer science still ranked highly
  • will be able to play D3 sport
  • More free time, Longer breaks
  • more research opportunities
  • location is worse but not a big factor in my decision
  • decent financial aid given but have to pay quite a bit more than USNA
I’m definitely not the expert on either school but these are my thoughts. I may not be taking into account factors for going or not going to each school. Please try not to be bias as much as possible because I’m trying to make a huge decisions that will direct my life.
Click to expand...
Maybe I’m late with my comment and you are already on yI feel that you answered your own question, I think JHU is definitely the one option for you
SuperGreek123 said:
Hey guys, I really need help with deciding where I’m gonna go to college. I got into both USNA and Johns Hopkins and I can see myself attending both but they will lead me down very different paths. Here are my thoughts about going to each school.

USNA:
  • I will be able to major in Cyber Operations and possibly double major with Comp Sci (I’m not sure how viable this is)
  • I love the location of Annapolis and prefer it to JHU
  • Attending USNA for free is huge positive for me and my family
  • I will be able to tryout and hopefully play a D1 sport (but not guaranteed yet)
  • I really don’t mind the strictness of USNA because I’m not at all interested in partying and stuff like that
  • I am prepared as a leader after being captain of two sports teams
  • long lasting friends and more of a sense of community
  • Shorter holidays and breaks
  • serve 5 years after graduation
  • Limited academic opportunities such as internships and study abroad (or not?)
  • *Important note that my primarily goal/motivation is not to be part of the military but instead the other benefits that attending USNA has

JHU
  • Globally recognized as one of the best universities in the world
  • I know JHU is primarily know for medicine but Undergraduate computer science still ranked highly
  • will be able to play D3 sport
  • More free time, Longer breaks
  • more research opportunities
  • location is worse but not a big factor in my decision
  • decent financial aid given but have to pay quite a bit more than USNA
I’m definitely not the expert on either school but these are my thoughts. I may not be taking into account factors for going or not going to each school. Please try not to be bias as much as possible because I’m trying to make a huge decisions that will direct my life.
Click to expand...
I may be late with my reply and you are already on your way to become part of the Blue Jay team, if so congrats! It is a great school
You answered your own question, as a parent my goal was always to have my kids in the right place, knowing that they are heading to a school for the wrong reasons will kill me. This is not the case of “fake it until you make it” and I feel you know that. Inside yourself the decision has been made.
 
Enjoy JHU! If your "primary goal/motivation" is not to be part of the military then you will not be happy at USNA and the spot is better suited to someone who has a desire to serve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top